Synthesis of Gallium Nitride Nanorods Through a Carbon Nanotube-Confined Reaction

Gallium nitride nanorods were prepared through a carbon nanotube–confined reaction. Ga ₂ O vapor was reacted with NH ₃ gas in the presence of carbon nanotubes to form wurtzite gallium nitride nanorods. The nanorods have a diameter of 4 to 50 nanometers and a length of up to 25 micrometers. It is proposed that the carbon nanotube acts as a template to confine the reaction, which results in the gallium nitride nanorods having a diameter similar to that of the original nanotubes. The results suggest that it might be possible to synthesize other nitride nanorods through similar carbon nanotube–confined reactions.